Thus a word borrowed into the English from the French, might have been borrowed into the French from the Latin, into the Latin from the Greek, into the Greek from the Persian, &c., and so _ad infinitum_. The investigation of this is a matter of literary curiosity rather than any important branch of philology. The ultimate known origin of many common words sometimes goes back to a great date, and points to extinct languages-- _Ancient Nubian._--Barbarous. _Ancient Egyptian._--Ammonia. _Ancient Syrian._--Cyder. _Ancient Lycian._--Pandar. _Ancient Lydian._--Mæander. _Ancient Persian._--Paradise. § 86. Again, a word from a given language may be introduced by more lines than one; or it may be introduced twice over; once at an earlier, and again at a later period. In such a case its form will, most probably, vary; and, what is more, its meaning as well. Words of this sort may be called _di-morphic_, their _dimorphism_ having originated in one of two reasons--a difference of channel or a difference of date. Instances of the first are, _syrup_, _sherbet_, and _shrub_, all originally from the _Arabic_, _srb_; but introduced differently, viz., the first through the Latin, the second through the Persian, and the third through the Hindoo. Instances of the second are words like _minster_, introduced during the Anglo-Saxon, as contrasted with _monastery_, introduced during the Anglo-Norman period. By the proper application of these processes, we account for words so different in present form, yet so identical in origin, as _priest_ and _presbyter_, _episcopal_ and _bishop_, &c. § 87. _Distinction._--The history of the languages that have been spoken in a particular country, is a different subject from the history of a particular language. The history of the languages that have been spoken in the United States of America, is the history of _Indian_ languages. The history of the language of the United States is the history of a Germanic language. § 88. _Words of foreign simulating a vernacular origin._--These may occur in any mixed language whatever; they occur, however, oftener in the English than in any other. Let a word be introduced from a foreign language--let it have some resemblance in sound to a real English term: lastly, let the meanings of the two words be not absolutely incompatible. We may then have a word of foreign origin taking the appearance of an English one. Such, amongst others, are _beef-eater_, from _bœuffetier_; _sparrow-grass_, _asparagus_; _Shotover_, _Chateauvert_;[35] _Jerusalem_, _Girasole_;[36] _Spanish beefeater_, _spina bifida_; _periwig_, _peruke_; _runagate_, _renegade_; _lutestring_, _lustrino_;[37] _O yes_, _Oyez!_ _ancient_, _ensign_.[38] _Dog-cheap_.--This has nothing to do with _dogs_. The first syllabic is _god_ = _good_ transposed, and the second the _ch-p_ in _chapman_ ( = _merchant_) _cheap_, and _Eastcheap_. In Sir J. Mandeville, we find _god-kepe_ = _good bargain_.